MOSCOW, August 30 (RIA Novosti) - The European Union leaders have appointed Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk as EU president and Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini as EU chief diplomat, current President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy said Saturday.
“The new European leadership team is complete. It is my great pleasure to introduce to you the future President of the European Council, Prime Minister of Poland and my good friend Donald Tusk and, on the other hand, Federica Mogherini, a new High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the current Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs. Congratulations to both of you,” Van Rompuy told a news briefing at an EU summit in Brussels.
Van Rompuy said he hopes that Tusk and Mogherini will work together “to defend Europe’s interests and Europe’s values.”
According to the official European Council statement, “The President of the European Council is elected for the period from 1 December 2014 until 31 May 2017... Donald Tusk was also appointed President of the Euro Summit, for the same period.”
The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy is appointed for the period from the end of the current term of office of the Commission until October 21, 2019, the statement said.
